Gujarat: Congress expels 8 MLAs for cross-voting in RS polls

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The Congress party on Wednesday expelled eight of its MLAs for six years who cross-voted in Rajya Sabha (RS) elections.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Gujarat unit Ashok Gehlot said he has also recommended the expulsion of six of its legislators who had earlier resigned as MLAs. Three of them had later joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Gehlot added that indiscipline will not be tolerated in the Congress, adding that those expelled were indulging in anti-party activities.

Gehlot, a former chief minister of Rajasthan, asserted that the party will strengthen further ahead of the state Assembly elections due later this year.

The Gujarat Congress spokesman Manish Doshi said the eight MLAs were expelled for cross-voting in favour of BJP candidates defying the whip issued by the party.

Vaghela, a former chief minister, had resigned from the Congress and the post of leader of the opposition in the Assembly weeks ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, but not from the House.

"We have expelled them for six years as they defied the party whip and cross-voted. We will take action against them under the anti-defection law also," said Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki.

Gehlot also thanked the Gujarat unit of the party for the victory of Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the RS poll. "It is Congress party's unity in Gujarat, which has ensured Ahmed Patel ji's victory in Rajya Sabha Polls," he said.